Connecticut's Niels Giffey (5) goes up for a shot between Central Florida's Isaiah Sykes (3) and Tristan Spurlock, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.

Connecticut's Niels Giffey (5) goes up for a shot between Central Florida's Isaiah Sykes (3) and Tristan Spurlock, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Feb.

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier (13) is fouled by Cincinnati's Jermaine Lawrence (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Sunday, March 1, 2014. Napier scored a game-high 18 points and had 11 rebounds in his team's 51-45 victory. less

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier (13) is fouled by Cincinnati's Jermaine Lawrence (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Sunday, March 1, 2014. Napier scored a game-high ... more

Photo: Fred Beckham, AP

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Connecticut's Shabazz Napier waits to throw a free throw during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier waits to throw a free throw during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Connecticut's Shabazz Napier dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.

Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.

Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

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UConn seniors want to leave on a high

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STORRS -- The old cliche "go out on top" is often used for how a player might want to finish his career. Niels Giffey, Shabazz Napier and Tyler Olander arrived on top when they joined the UConn basketball program four years ago.

"Coach (George) Blaney told us you don't come to a tournament for second place, you want to win," Olander said about the former UConn assistant's message.

The Husky senior trio has done quite a bit of winning in four seasons, starting with a 32-9 freshmen ride that ended with a national championship celebration in Houston. All three also are on track to earn their degrees in May.

Going into Wednesday night's final home game (7 p.m. vs. Rutgers, ESPNU) at Gampel Pavilion, Giffey, Napier and Olander have been part of a four-year run -- during sometimes turbulent times -- that has resulted in a combined 95 wins under coaches Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie.

"That loyalty, what they showed the program in the midst of adversity, the character that they showed, the leadership that they showed in a difficult time really means a lot to me," said Ollie, who took over the program in September 2012 when the Huskies were facing an one-year postseason ban for failing to make the APR grade. "We needed those guys to stay, and they stuck with us."

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The most decorated of the group is Napier, who has scored 1,755 points (eighth all-time at UConn) and has tallied 606 career assists (fourth) in 132 games, averaging 13.3 points and 4.6 assists along the way. He's also strong together a lengthy resume of big-game performances and big momentum shifts.

"Being here for four years, it doesn't seem like time is moving too fast, but now you're a senior, it's Senior Day and the last time you can play in front of these fans at Gampel, it's something that's special," Napier said. "It's something super special (to play at UConn), it kind of like utopia."

After spending the summer with the German National team, Giffey has enjoyed a career season as a valuable sixth man. In 128 games, Giffey has averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds, but this season those numbers have grown to 8.0 points and 3.4 rebounds.

"Coach Calhoun, coach Blaney .. the first couple practices you walked in and you felt a special way," said Giffey, who's mother, Christine Giffey, flew in from Germany for Senior Night. "You felt a legacy that you are part of, and as a freshman, you had to live up to."

While Napier and Giffey have thrived on the court this season, Olander's biggest growth came off it, maturing into a team leader after getting into off-season trouble twice.

"I'm just went out and did what I had to do, obviously, I just wanted to play was the main thing," Olander said. "And then over the course of, especially this year, it's not really playing that's most important, it's winning and helping those behind you be successful as opposed to personal success.

"Success as a unit, success as a team has been the most important thing. Coming in here, working hard every day, getting the other guys to work hard and reach their potential, is probably more meaningful than anything I've done myself."

In 129 career games, Olander has started 58 -- including 20 on the national championship team -- and averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 assists.

"You go through a lot of obstacles through life to get to where you want to be," Napier said. "There's a lot of rivers and mountains you have to pass, and it's just part of being a human. Things are going to happen and you just have to learn from it and move on."